Brussels (dpa -AFX) – The EU environment ministers have agreed on a declaration of intent for a climate plan for 2035 – and thus prevents the state community from being in front of the world with completely empty hands. However, the compromise found at a meeting in Brussels does not determine a specific target brand to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for the next ten years.
Instead, the EU countries only agreed on a target corridor: they want to reduce their emissions between 66.25 percent and 72.5 percent compared to 1990 by 2035.
Before the next World Climate Conference in November in Brazil, the participant countries are to submit climate protection plans to the United Nations in which they are presenting what they were going to do by 2035. The delivery period is coming off next Wednesday.
Tear the deadline “embarrassing”
Even before the environment minister came together, it was clear that the EU countries could not agree on such a formal plan. The states could not agree on something more binding than the insurance company to deliver a plan for 2035.
The Green MP Michael only criticizes that the explanation shows the European “inability to act”. A strong European leadership role is needed, especially after the US has withdrawn from the Paris climate agreement, he said.
Linda Kalcher from the Brussels think tank Strategic Perspective describes it as “embarrassing” that the EU misses the UN period. “The declaration of intent is only a hard -fought consolation price, but enables the EU to speak to one voice at the General Assembly next week,” said Kalcher. The task must be to say goodbye to the further path and the 2040 goal before the World Climate Conference in November.
Germany also contributed to the delay
So far, it was also impossible to find an agreement for an EU climate target for 2040 among the member states. For this, the Commission presented a proposal in July: to reduce emissions by climate -damaging greenhouse gases by 90 percent by 2040, compared to 1990. The federal states must position themselves together. In the essential points, it corresponds to the climate goals of the Black-Red Federal Government in the coalition agreement.
The fact that the EU Environment Minister also agreed on the 2040 goal at their meeting failed due to the resistance of several EU countries. Germany also ensured that the topic will be higher for the time being at a meeting on one level: a summit of the EU heads of state and government in October- after the UN period./RDZ/DP/NAS